| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R71023/01 |
| Title: |
Molecular theory of antiferroelectric ordering in chiral and nonchiral liquid crystals |
| Principal Investigator: |
Osipov, Professor M |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Mathematics and Statistics |
| Organisation: |
University of Strathclyde |
| Scheme: |
Fast Stream |
| Starts: |
07 May 2002 |
Ends: |
06 November 2003 |
Value (£): |
60,043
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Molecular models of two different types of antiferroelectric smectic liquid crystals will be developed in order to explain experimentally determined properties and structures of these systems. Firstly, a molecular-statistical theory will be proposed which explains the formation of a sequence of antiferro- and ferrielectric phases with large periods in chiral smectic materials. The role of molecular chirality in the stabilisation of these subphases will be considered and the particular structure of three- and four-layer phases, which has recently been determined experimentally, will be explained taking into consideration polarisation effects and effective orientational intermolecular interactions between different smectic layers. At a second stage, methods developed in the molecular theory of conventional ferro- and antiferroelectric liquid crystals will be used to model the recently discovered novel antiferroelectric smectic phases composed of non-chiral bent-core molecules. These new phases appear to be macroscopically chiral due to a unique combination of the spontaneous polarisation and the tilted structure, and the theory will describe corresponding induced chirality effects, the onset of the helical superstructure and microscopic origin of the spontaneous polarisation. A comparison of the results for all these systems will allow a significant understanding of chiral and polar properties of liquid crystals and other related soft matter materials such as chiral Langmuir monolayers, and biological membranes.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.strath.ac.uk |